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Yisrael Rutman

This week, Jr. takes a look at jobs that have disappeared, jobs that are disappearing, and the jobs that are taking their place.

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Speak Up! Have you ever heard of a turgeman? It was a position that existed in the times of the Gemara. A rosh yeshivah would typically deliver a lesson to the assembled students in a soft voice; and the turgeman then repeated it in a loud voice for all the students to hear. Sometimes he would also explain the lecture. In other occupations too, a strong voice was often necessary. In the days before microphones, for example, politicians making speeches before large crowds would have to shout to be heard. These days, we talk of “letting your voice be heard,” meaning making your opinion known. But it used to be that if your voice wasn’t heard — literally — your opinion would not be known, and you wouldn’t get elected.